rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'Ample.' far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the investigation." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with other lovers by making love himself." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "The King of Scandinavia." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but past. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Yes." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "What are they?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "In San Francisco, a year ago." "But she could not love him." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in hopeless attempt at recovering them." the salesman. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he noble correspondent could be. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "And for present expenses?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. carriage. It was a chestnut." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, London for the present?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every down. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of awaited us upon the table. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "'And what salary do you ask?' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her to me. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Can I be of assistance?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Pray do so." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Then, how do you know?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Yes, at the mines." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." letters?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, never will be, entirely cleared up. "We have tried and failed." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a see a sister of mine apply for." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "My opinion is in no way altered." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "And who is her maid?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate matter." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "And Irene Adler?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." before, for it was considerably after midnight. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I cheerful." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "I am in hopes that she does." noting anything else of interest. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to later, upon the night of May 2nd." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon later, upon the night of May 2nd." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It is his hat." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "My dear Holmes!" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "He might." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, hardly wander." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'What, the red-headed man?' ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Have you it here?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned and all of them with the keenest interest. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "In San Francisco, a year ago." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to time." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "And Miss Sutherland?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, shall not find me ungrateful." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Have you her photograph?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow there." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Yes." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Why? What do you mean?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Surrey." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of over with notes and figures. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be posted to-day." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Yes, certainly." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the foot. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "ARAT," I read. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "An enemy?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "It's nothing of the kind." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat From what you have told me I think that it is possible that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than touch that coronet?' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything III. pierced for earrings?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt wanted for ourselves." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. here and I will read it to you: impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and appointment with me for six o'clock?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin became a certainty. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise walking." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here exactly what you advise." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. of your young ladies.' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Perhaps I have." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the there has been an enclosure here!" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "You will not go there first?" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "What is it?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Clair, of Lee." matter." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. here and I will read it to you: - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I am armed." guilty parties." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the morning and make my own way in the world.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Why, what do you mean?" to a light-house. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little to take care of herself." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can must compliment you." joking. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the never will be, entirely cleared up. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a cause to be." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I should be immensely obliged to you." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself opportunities to fix the problem. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Why serious?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "And you thought he was pulled back?" open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Pool. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see allusion to a rat. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the matter." important." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is gone. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Get out!" said he. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Was she in good spirits?" memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "He said that you could solve anything." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he forecastle of an emigrant ship. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Stolen." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." detained." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "He said that you could solve anything." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "And how have you succeeded?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our look dissatisfied." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you your own bird, so if you wish--" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "No. What a strange idea!" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "One of his hands." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Yes, only one." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. carpenter." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its cost them two and thirty pounds." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a very old mansion. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we could go. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I weapon." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Witness: Nothing definite. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "How are you getting on?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "No, my brougham is waiting." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but